Press Release –
Polaris snocross racer Levi LaVallee became the answer to a trivia question on Thursday night. The question? “Who was the first to win the gold medal in Winter X Games Snowmobile Speed & Style?”
A parallel question might be: Which brand of snowmobile swept all three podium positions in that first-ever Speed & Style Event? Polaris, natch!
The Hentges Racing star who has his own website – www.launchinlevi.com – displayed the greatest combination of racing speed and freestyle ability to win the first-ever Winter X Games Snowmobile Speed & Style gold medal in Aspen, Colorado, on Thursday night.
LaVallee scored a decisive victory in the final running head-to-head against fellow Polaris racer Sam Rogers. Joe Parsons, also of Hentges Racing, won the bronze by running smooth and strong against crashing freestyle specialist Ski-Doo rider Heath Frisby.
So, history will note that the first-ever Speed & Style results read:
1. Levi LaVallee, Polaris
2. Sam Rogers, Polaris
3. Joe Parsons, Polaris
Speed & Style
In this new form of snowmobile competition, one racer runs the first lap on a “speed” course comprised of tight corners and a series of whoops.
The other runs lap one on the “style” course, which includes two launch ramps – the first of which demands a back flip (or else). The competitors switch courses for the second lap.
Competitors score points for finishing first (speed) as well as earning subjective points from judges for their performance on the style course.
A Former Medalist
LaVallee is a former Winter X Games medalist, having won gold in Hillcross in 2004 and silver in snocross in 2006.
This year he is gunning for three golds, and he has successfully earned the first of those. He still has the ultra-competitive snocross ahead of him as well as snowmobile freestyle.
The Broadcast Schedule
The X Games are the creation of ESPN, a subsidiary of the ABC parent company. Thus, X Games are broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and ABC. Note:
– All times are Eastern Standard Time
– Consult ESPN.com or your local listings for exact broadcast times and channels.
This weekend’s X Games broadcasts are:
Friday, January 25
9:30-11:30 p.m.: ESPN and ESPN HD
Midnight-1 a.m.: ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD (day’s recap)
Saturday, January 26
3-6 p.m.: ABC & ABC HD
9-11 p.m.: ESPN & ESPN HD
Midnight-1 a.m.: ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD (day’s recap)
Sunday, January 27
2-6 p.m.: ESPN & ESPN HD
9-11 p.m.: ESPN & ESPN HD
Midnight-1 a.m.: ESPN2 & ESPN2 HD (day’s recap)
